HBO doing a Pacquiao biopic
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/11/2008 12:18 AM
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US television cable giant Home Box Office (HBO) is making a TV special about Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao as part of its promotional campaign for the December 6 Dream Match between “Pacman” and Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya.
A report posted on PhilBoxing.com said an HBO crew has arrived in Pacquiao’s hometown in General Santos City to start filming the biopic. The special will be aired on HBO's 24/7 show.
HBO producer Scott Boggins said they will chronicle Pacquiao's dramatic rise from his dirt poor beginnings to the pinnacle of his boxing career.
Boggins said they will also present the life of Pacquiao outside of his boxing career.
Pacquiao, who used to sell cigarettes and worked in a construction company, started his boxing career as amateur. At the age of 16, he decided to embark on a professional career, scoring 11 straight wins before suffering his first loss to Filipino journeyman Rustico Torrecampo.
Pacquiao scored his first title on his 25th fight by knocking out Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown.
After two successive defenses, he was stripped of the title for showing up two pounds overweight against Medgoen Singsurat. A physically-drained Pacquiao lost to Singsurat on a third round knockout.
He bounced back to capture the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight title by beating defending champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Pacquiao went up in weight to challenge lineal featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera whom he bludgeoned into submission in the 11th round.
From there, the Filipino quickly rose to boxing superstardom, piling up more sensational wins spiked only by a loss to Erik Morales, whom he beat twice via stoppage in subsequent rematches, and getting a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez.
HBO has yet to announce when the special will be shown.
HBO said a similar episode will also be aired featuring Manny's opponent Oscar de la Hoya.
